Tylenol 3 Side Effects

By
J. Lucy Boyd

About the Author:

J. Lucy Boyd

J. Lucy Boyd, RN, BSN has written several nonfiction books including "The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students." She is frequently called upon to provide career guidance to medical professionals and advice to parents of children with challenges. She also loves teaching others to cook for their families.

Tylenol 3 is known generically as acetaminophen with codeine phosphate. It delivers 300 mg of Tylenol and 30 mg of codeine in a tablet form. Tylenol 3 is indicated for the relief of mild to moderate pain and is a C-II controlled substance. This drug must be kept out of the reach of children and not given to anyone to whom it is not prescribed. It must be taken only as ordered. Tylenol 3 users should be aware of possible side effects.

Gastrointestinal Side Effects

Common gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting and constipation. Uncommon side effects include liver toxicity, liver failure, jaundice, poor appetite, abdominal pain, spasms of the biliary tract and dry mouth.

Hematological Side Effects

Hematological side effects of acetaminophen with codeine are uncommon. One side effect is hemolytic anemia, which manifests as blood in the urine and a lack of urine. Another side effect is methemoglobinemia, which occurs when the body cannot recycle hemoglobin. It can lead to a bluish color to the skin. Other uncommon side effects are leukopenia, granulocytosis and neutropenia (low levels of certain white blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets) and pancytopenia (low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets).

Genitourinary Side Effects

Genitourinary side effects are uncommon and include renal tubular necrosis, difficulty voiding, voiding less urine than normal, low sex drive, voiding more than normal, spasms of the ureters and kidney failure.

Dependence

Physical and psychological dependence can occur as a side effect of taking codeine. Tolerance can also occur. These symptoms must be discussed with the physician, and medication changes may be appropriate. If dependence and tolerance lead to the patient ingesting more medication than prescribed, serious life-threatening adverse effects can occur, including permanent liver damage due to the acetaminophen in the Tylenol 3 product.

Other Side Effects

Other side effects include rash, low blood sugar, a feeling of warmth with facial redness, spasms of the bronchi or larynx, slow breathing, rash, unusual sensitivity to cold, shallow breathing, hives, suppressed cough reflex, itching and fever. These side effects are uncommon.